Improvement in door-springs



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. HOULE, OF IVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DOOR-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,477, dated April 7, 1874; `ipplcation iiled February 28, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. HOULE, of Worcester, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Door-Springs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a plan view of my door-spring. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the saine. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the same.

` This invention has relation to door-springs of the kind wherein a vibrating pressure-arm is secured to a barrel containing the spring, which barrel is applied to a bearing which is secured tothe door-frame, while the said arm is guided by a bracket, which is secured to the door. My invention consists in a ratchet and catch combined with an auxiliary spring, for the purpose of regulating its action; also, in an adjustable bracket-arm carrying a pulley and loop for guiding the arm 'which acts on the door, as will be hereinafter explained.

The following is a description of my invention:

In the annexed drawings, A designates a barrel or cylinder, which incloses a coiled spring, S, one end of which spring is secured to the barrel, and the other end is secured to a square bar, B. This bar B passes through the cheeks c c of a box, C, and to its upper end a lever-ratchet, D, is rigidly secured. E is a dog, which is pivoted to the upper cheek c of the box C, and constructed with teeth on one edge, which are `held in gear with the ratchet-lever teeth by means of an auxiliary spring, s. Spring s is secured to the handle portion of the dog E at one end, and at the other end to the bottom cheek of the box C. The springbarrelAhas secured to it a curved arm, F, which may be of any desired length, and which has a notch, f, made in it near its free end. This arm passes through a loop, p', which is pivoted on the stem of a grooved pulley, p, which aftords an anti-friction guide for the said arm F, and which is pressed against thereby. The pulley and loop are applied on the angular end of a bracket, G, which is coinposed of two sections, g g', adjustably secured together by means of a clamp-screw, e. box O,wth its barrel and arm attachments, is secured to the top of a door-frame at any suitable point, and the bracket G is secured to the upper part of the door, and receives through its loop p the vibrating arm F, as shown in Fig. l. As the door is opened and closed the arm F plays freely through said loop, and presses, by the action of the spring S, against the pulley p.

It will be seen, from the above description, that, by adjusting the ratchet-lever I) about its axis1 the spring S can be coiled up or uncoiled, and its action on the door increased or diminished, as circumstances may require.

The bracket G can also be extended or shortl cned, as may be required.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The lever-ratchet D, with its dog E and auxiliary spring s, in colnbination with the vspring S, barrel A, and vibrating arm F, substantially as described. y

2. The extensible bracket G, carrying the pulley p and guide-loop p', in combination with the curved arm F and spring S, as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS OLAIRH HOULE.

Titnessesz T. EDWARD MURRAY, OWEN WARD.

The 

